Used boat survey

[Keith G.]

I am considering buying a plywood homebuilt sailing skiff from a co-worker. It's approx 12' long, includes mast, boom, sails (jib and main), running and standing rigging, dagger board. He didn't build it; we don't know who did. He said the top of the dagger board case is split apart. Asking price is $250 Can.

What do I look for? How do I determine if it has a reasonable working life left etc. It's been dry sailed and stored upside down outside.

Thanks in advance.

Keith

[Jack Heinlen]

I like a slender knife. Ask permission and poke around. A thin, sharp knife, oriented to the grain, causes less damage than an ice pick. Look in places moisture might collect, like the corners and the ends of framing. You don't need to poke at everything(and most owners won't like it if you do) so think like moisture, and look in the cracks and crannies.

Stored outside under a tarp? I suspect, from what you say, that the framing is probably fine, but storing this way can cause condensation under the tarp and play hell with the ply. Look at the chines and anywhere you have an open ply edge, for delaminations.

If the boat has bright finishes, look for darkening of the wood beneath.

What's the boat framed with? Sheathed with?

Spread out the sail(s) and look for fraying seams or tears.

For 250 Can. it would be pretty hard to go too wrong, unless the boat's a dog, or is coming apart/rotten.

[Paul Scheuer]

Like Jack says, poke around. I'd be interested in the board trunk. See if you can figure out how it happened to part company. Design weakness, materials ? Hard grounding ? If we knew the design, or if you had pictures, there's probably someone here who has one or knows the type.

[NormMessinger]

If I were the seller I'd let you poke around with something sharp for, in this case, $250. You gonna repair the damage if you decide not to buy it? Tap and listen. No sense gouging up a perfectly good paint job.

[Keith G.]

I should have made one thing clear. I haven't had a chance to look at the boat. So I can't post pics. All I have to go on is the owner's word (and he is reliable).

I'm pretty sure it was stored under a tarp. The trunk was popped apart when the boat was towed behind a power boat. He said it's just at the top and should be an easy repair.

[Keith G.]

I don't know framing material. Sheathing is fiberglass (don't know if epoxy or fiberglass) strips on the chines and then paint.

[Jack Heinlen]

A little judicious poking is in order. Tapping won't do. 'Judicious' is the operant word.

[George Roberts]

That is only $150 in real money. smile.gif

Buy the boat or not. But poking holes is beyond reason.

[Keith G.]

Thanks for the advice. What should I look for in the rig/canvas? Any common pitfalls for used boats/dinghies?

[Keith G.]

Anybody have any pointers? :confused:

[On Vacation]

Tapping with a rubber mallet surely would not be damaging to a good plywood hull. It surely will tell you how much mush, voids, and yes water impregnated wood that is in this boat. BUt geewizz, at that price, some patching can't be that bad. Heck, the rigging would probably costs you 150 dollars. Seems to me you maybe asking a lot for a perfect boat. If it has been stored upside down, then check the touching parts of the boat ends, if stored on the ground.

[Paul Scheuer]

Keith: As far as rigging goes, just make sure you've got all the pieces. Lay it all out and figure out what connects to what and that none of the pieces are broken or missing. Usually the sailing rig survives better than the boat. Look for tears or ripped seams in the sails. You'll know if they can be repaired or need to be replaced. If you see any rusted parts, they are probably not the original pieces (or shouldn't have been used), and should be replaced.

[ 01-03-2004, 10:38 AM: Message edited by: Paul Scheuer ]

[imported_Conrad]

Boy, thats not much money for a boat. It wouldn't even come close to the cost of materials. If it suits your needs and looks like its all there, just buy it! I'd be more fired up about having a boat than worrying about structure in something so simple. Enjoy. smile.gif

[Keith G.]

An update: the owner talked to his mother (who is the actual owner I guess) and she told him to just give it to me. Now is it worth it? :D

Thanks for the advice. I hope to see it in a month or so. I'm pretty sure I'll take it! (Of course, where I live, in Northwestern Ontario, sailing won't happen until the end of May. We just got 5-6 inches of snow last night!)

[Paul Scheuer]

Pay her $1. Free Boats are never what they seem to be.

[imported_Conrad]

smile.gif "Free boats": Now there''s a misleading concept if there ever was one.